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In accordance with the invention, an LED packaged for high temperature
operation comprises a metal base including an underlying thermal
connection pad and a pair of electrical connection pads, an overlying
ceramic layer, and a LED die mounted overlying the metal base. The LED is
thermally coupled through the metal base to the thermal connection pad,
and the electrodes are electrically connected to the underlying
electrical connection pads. A low thermal resistance insulating layer can
electrically insulate other areas of die from the base while permitting
heat passage. Heat flow can be enhanced by thermal vias to the thermal
connector pad. Ceramic layers formed overlying the base can add circuitry
and assist in distributing emitted light. The novel package can operate
at temperatures as high as 250.degree. C.

1. A packaged LED for high temperature operation comprising: a metal base,
the metal base including an underlying thermal connection pad and a pair
of underlying electrical connection pads; a layer of ceramic overlying
the metal base; and an LED having a pair of electrodes overlying the
metal base, the LED thermally coupled through the metal base to the
thermal connection pad and the electrodes electrically connected to
respective underlying electrical connector pads.

2. The packaged LED of claim 1 wherein the layer of ceramic includes a
cavity and the LED is mounted in the cavity.

3. The packaged LED of claim 2 wherein the cavity has tapered sides to
reflect light from the LED.

4. The packaged LED of claim 1 wherein the metal base includes a concave
region to reflect light and the LED is mounted overlying the concave
region.

5. The packaged LED of claim 1 wherein the underlying electrical
connection pads and the underlying thermal connection pad are coplanar to
permit surface mounting on corresponding pads of a PC board.

6. The packaged LED of claim 1 wherein the LED is mounted on the ceramic
layer overlying the thermal connection pad and the LED is thermally
coupled by the thermal vias to the metal base overlying the thermal
connector pad.

7. The packaged LED of claim 1 wherein at least one electrode of the LED
is connected to an underlying electrical connection pad by an electrical
path including a bonding wire from the electrode to a bonding pad on the
ceramic layer.

8. The packaged LED of claim 1 wherein at least one electrode of the LED
is connected to an underlying electrical connection pad by an electrical
path including an insulated conducting via through the metal base.

9. The packaged LED of claim 1 wherein at least one electrode of the LED
is connected to an underlying electrical connection pad by an electrical
path including the metal base.

10. An array of LEDs comprising a plurality of LEDs according to claim 1
overlying a common metal base.

11. A low temperature co-fired on metal (LTCC-M) light emitting diode
(LED) assembly for high temperature operation comprising: a metal base,
the metal base including a thermal connection surface; at least one LED
die, the LED die having a pair of electrodes overlying and electrically
insulated from the metal base, the die thermally coupled through the
metal base to the thermal connection surface; a layer of ceramic
overlying the metal base, the layer of ceramic having at least one
opening to house the LED die; and a plurality of conductive traces
insulated from the metal base, the LED electrodes electrically connected
to the conductive traces.

12. The LED assembly of claim 11 further comprising a plurality of edge
connector fingers, wherein the fingers are connected to the LED
electrodes.

13. The LED assembly of claim 11 further comprising a plurality of edge
connector fingers, wherein the fingers are connected to decoder/driver
electronics that control the LED electrodes.

14. The LED assembly of claim 13 wherein the decoder/driver electronics
that control the LED electrodes is embedded in the LTCC-M package.

15. The LED assembly of claim 11 further comprising an additional metal
block on which the LED assembly is mounted to further improve heat
dissipation.

16. The LED assembly of claim 11 wherein the LED die is a flip-chip.

17. The LED assembly of claim 16 wherein the flip-chip is bonded to the
traces by conductive balls comprising solder or gold.

18. The LED assembly of claim 11 further comprising isolated terminals
formed on the metal base, the isolated terminals electrically connected
to the LED electrodes.

19. The LED assembly of claim 11 further comprising isolated terminals
formed on the metal base, the isolated terminals electrically connected
to decoder/driver electronics, the electronics mounted within the LTCC-M
assembly.

20. The LED assembly of claims 18 and 19 further comprising vias in the
insulating layer, the vias electrically connecting traces to the isolated
terminals.

[0002] This invention relates to light emitting diodes and, in particular,
to light emitting diodes packaged for high temperature operation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are being used as light sources in an
increasing variety of applications extending from communications and
instrumentation to household, automotive and visual display. Many of
these applications require higher levels of power or subject the LEDs to
higher temperature operating environments. In response, LED manufacturers
have improved the purity of the semiconductor materials in order to keep
the LED output intensity high as temperature increases. As a result,
desired applications of LEDs are now constrained by the thermal limits of
their packaging.

[0004] The currently prevalent plastic LED packages have an operational
temperature limit of about 80.degree. C. Some LED die, however, will
operate at 120.degree. C., and industry preference is for an operational
temperature of about 200.degree. C. Accordingly there is a need for an
improved light emitting diode packaged for high temperature operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In accordance with the invention, an LED packaged for high
temperature operation comprises a metal base including an underlying
thermal connection pad and a pair of electrical connection pads, an
overlying ceramic layer, and a LED die mounted overlying the metal base.
The LED is thermally coupled through the metal base to the thermal
connection pad, and the electrodes are electrically connected to the
underlying electrical connection pads. A low thermal resistance
insulating layer can electrically insulate other areas of die from the
base while permitting heat passage. Heat flow can be enhanced by thermal
vias to the thermal connector pad. Ceramic layers formed overlying the
base can add circuitry and assist in distributing emitted light. The
packaged diode can be made by the low temperature co-fired ceramic on
metal technique (LTCC-M). The LTCC-M packaged diode can operate at
temperatures as high as 250.degree. C.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The advantages, nature and various additional features of the
invention will appear more fully upon consideration of the illustrative
embodiments now to be described in detail in connection with the
accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0007] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross section of a first embodiment of an LED
packaged for high temperature operation;

[0008] FIG. 2 illustrates how circuit components can be added to the
overlying ceramic layer;

[0017] FIGS. 14 and 15 are a top and side view of flip-chip die bonded to
the traces of an LTCC-M package by solder or gold balls;

[0018] FIG. 16 shows conductive traces in an LTCC-M package;

[0019] FIG. 17 shows a single LED package having isolated base terminals
and vias;

[0020] FIG. 18 shows the package of FIG. 17 adapted for a plurality of LED
die; and

[0021] FIG. 19 shows a round punch tool for forming a tapered cavity.

[0022] It is to be understood that these drawings are for illustrating the
concepts of the invention and are not to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] This description is divided into two parts. In Part I describes the
structure and features of light emitting diodes (LEDs) packaged for high
temperature operation in accordance with the invention and illustrate
exemplary embodiments. In Part II we provide further details of the
LTCC-M technology used in packaging the LEDs.

[0024] I. LEDs Packaged for High Temperature Operation

[0025] Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a schematic cross section of
an LED 10 packaged for high temperature operation. LED 10 is mounted
overlying and thermally coupled to a metal base 11. Advantageously the
metal base 11 includes a patterned low thermal resistance, electrically
insulating layer 12 to provide electrical insulation from the base 11 and
a patterned conductive layer 13 to provide thermal coupling and
electrical connection. The layers 12 and 13 can be patterned to provide
insulation or electrical connection regions as desired. An LED 10 having
an anode 10A and a cathode 10C can be mounted overlying the base 111 by
solder bonding the electrodes 10A and 10C to conductive pad regions 13A
and 13C of patterned conductive layer 13.

[0026] Electrical connections may be made through the metal base 11 to
underlying electrical connection pads 15A and 15B using electrically
insulated vias 14 or the metal of the base 11. Solderable electrical
connection pads 15A and 15B may be deposited on the underside of metal
base 11 to permit surface mounting of the base 11 on a printed circuit
board (not shown). The remaining areas of the base 11 may be provided
with one or more thermal connector pads 16 to carry heat from the LED
package to the printed circuit board. Advantageously the base 11 makes
contact with plated through holes (not shown) in a printed circuit board
during solder assembly. Such through holes would transfer heat from the
diode package into the PCB carrier (typically aluminum or copper).

[0027] Overlying the base 11, one or more ceramic layers 17 can be added
to the surface of the package. The ceramic layers on the base 11 form a
cavity 18 around the LED 10. The shape of the cavity walls, as will be
discussed below, can affect the distribution of light from the LED 10.
The ceramic layer 17 can include circuitry for connecting multiple diodes
in an array, electrostatic discharge protection circuitry, diode control
and power supply connections and other surface mount components (not
shown in FIG. 1).

[0028] A transparent cover 19 can be provided by bonding a transparent
clear cover or lens over the cavity 18 (as by epoxy). The seal can be
made hermetic by addition of a bonding pad and brazed seal ring (not
shown).

[0029] In an advantageous embodiment, the metal base 11 is
copper/molybdenum/copper (CMC), the low thermal resistance electrical
insulating layer 12 (about 2 micrometers) can be an oxidized layer of the
metal base, deposited glass or another deposited insulator such as nickel
oxide (about 2 micrometers), and the conductive layer 13 can be gold,
silver or other suitable conductor. The LED electrodes 10A, 10C can be
solder bonded to the gold bonding pads 13A, 13C by AuSn solder. The
underlying pads 15 and 16 for electrical connection and heat sinking are
preferably PdAg and Ag, respectively.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, the ceramic layer 17 overlying base 11 can be
composed of a plurality of ceramic layers 17A, 17B, 17C and 17D. Each
ceramic layer can include circuit components for powering, controlling,
protecting and interconnecting LEDs. While the circuitry will vary for
different applications, FIG. 2 illustrates how to add surface mounted
active devices 20, buried capacitors 21, connectors 22, interconnecting
vias 23, and buried resistors 24. The metal base 11 with overlying
ceramic layer 17 incorporating circuitry can be fabricated using the low
temperature co-fired ceramic on metal technique (LTCC-M) described, for
example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,455,930 issued Sep. 24, 2002 and incorporated
herein by reference.

[0031] Since a good amount of light is emitted from the edges of LED die,
the shape of the ceramic cavity is an important factor in the total light
efficiency. The ceramic cavity walls can be formed in a variety of ways
including embossing, coining, stamping, forming by lamination, or routing
the ceramic in the "green" or unfired state.

[0032] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate exemplary light dispersive cavities for
the LED of FIG. 1. In FIG. 3A the cavity 18 is provided with walls 30
having straight taper. In FIG. 3B, the walls 31 have a parabolic taper.
In general, each diode cavity 18 can be shaped to improve the light
output and focus. White fired glass ceramic is reflective and disperses
light to reduce the appearance of bright spots. The reflectivity of the
cavity surface can be increased by polishing the surface or by applying a
reflective coating such as silver, as by spraying, painting, sputtering
or chemical vapor disposition. It is advantageous to smooth the side
walls so that applied materials such as epoxy will shrink back and form a
reflective gap.

[0033] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross section of an alternative embodiment of
a single LED packaged for high temperature operation. In this embodiment
a lens 40 overlying the LED 10 replaces the ceramic layer 17, cavity 18
and lens cover 19. The other features of the FIG. 4 device are
substantially the same as described for the FIG. 1 device.

[0034] Other variations of the high temperature LED would include a LED
die with a single electrode on the bottom of the package with the second
electrode as a wire bondable pad on the top side. Or both electrodes
could be on the top surface with wire bonding to each.

[0035] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross section of an alternative LED packaged
for high temperature applications. The FIG. 5 device is similar to FIG. 1
device except that the metal base 51 is formed, as by coining, to include
a concave light reflecting cavity 52 around the LED die 10. FIG. 5 also
illustrates that the LED die 10 can have one of its electrodes 53 on its
top surface. The top electrode 53 can be connected, for example by a
bonding wire 54 to a top bonding pad 55 on the ceramic 17 and through via
57 including insulated via section 56 to the bonding pad 15A underlying
the formed metal base 51. The other LED electrode can be on the bottom
surface connected to bonding pad 59 and further connected by way of the
metal base and via 57 to the second underlying bonding pad 15B. The
formed metal base 51 can be provided with underlying ceramic supports
58A, 58B so that underlying bonding pads 15A, 15B are coplanar with
thermal base connector 16. This arrangement presents pads 15A, 15B and
connector 16 in a single plane for surface mount connection onto a PC
board.

[0036] The embodiment of FIG. 6 is similar to that of FIG. 5 except that
the LED 10 is mounted on the ceramic layer 17 rather than on the formed
metal base 51. Here the ceramic layer 17, conforming to the coined metal
base, acts as a light reflector. The bottom electrode of the LED 10 can
be connected to metal base 51 by way of a bonding pad 60 and conductive
vias 61 through the ceramic to the base 51. The vias 61 are numbered and
dimensioned to conduct heat as well as electricity.

[0037] The FIG. 7 embodiment is similar to the FIG. 5 embodiment except
that the cavity 18 in the ceramic layer 17 is enlarged so that the shaped
region of formed metal base 51 is more widely exposed for acting as a
layer area reflector.

[0038] The LED structure of FIG. 1 may easily be replicated to form an
array of LEDs. FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary array 80 of diodes 10,
with buried interconnection circuitry (not shown) added to the ceramic
(17 of FIG. 1) connected to common electrodes 81A, 81C.

[0039] FIG. 9 is a schematic cross section of an array 90 of LTCC-M
packaged LED diodes 10 that is particularly easy to fabricate. In essence
array 90 comprises a plurality of diodes 10 disposed between a heat sink
91 and an apertured PC board 92. The light emitting portion of each LED
10 is aligned with a corresponding window aperture 93 of PC board 92. The
PC board 92 advantageously contains the control and driver circuits (not
shown) and electrical connections between the circuits and the LED's,
e.g. connections 94. The PC Board 92 can be conveniently secured to the
heat sink (which can be a sheet of aluminum), as by screws 95, to hold
the diodes 10 in thermal contact with the heat sink. Advantageously
thermal coupling between the diodes and the heat sink can be facilitated
by thermal grease.

[0040] The array 90 is particularly easy to fabricate. After forming PC
board 92 and providing a plurality of LTCC-M packaged diodes 10 as
described herein, the diodes can be surface mounted on the PC board with
the light emitting portions aligned with apertures, and LED contacts
aligned with PC board contacts. After solder reflow connection, the PC
board 92 can be secured to the heat sink 91 by screws 95. The apertures
and LEDs can be arranged across the surface of the board to achieve any
desired configuration of a two-dimensional array of LEDs.

[0041] FIG. 10 is a top view illustrating a first advantageous
configuration of LEDs 10 forming a closely packed hexagonal array. The PC
board 92 includes common electrodes 81A and 81C.

[0042] FIG. 11 is a top view of a second advantageous configuration. The
LEDs are distributed in a plurality of sets 111A, 111B, and 111C in
respective sectors around the circumference of a circle and in a set 111D
in the center of the circle, all to emulate a concentrated light source.

[0043] FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of the invention suitable for use as a
plug in card. A plurality of cavities 122 includes a plurality LED die
123, 124, and 125. LED die 123, 124, and 125 can be identical die (for
increased luminosity), or they can be individual colors and lit in
various patterns for single, or mixed color displays. They can also be
lit in various combinations to give variable intensity or to show
patterns. Card contact fingers 126, 127, 128, and 129 show an exemplary
embodiment to control the displayed color. Here, finger 129 is an
electrical common (common cathode or common anode), and fingers 126, 127,
and 128 are each connected to a single color die in each well to cause
the card to light red, green, or blue respectively. In the example, each
LED die is wired to the respective LED die of the same color in each well
and to the respective control finger for that color. In another version
of this embodiment, decoding/driver electronics can be embedded directly
in the layers of the card and can control individual LED die or groups of
die.

[0045] Semiconductor die can also be directly connected as flip-chips to
any of the described LED assemblies. In this embodiment, surfaces of the
package can be bumped with a bondable material such as gold or solder.
The bumps can be applied to correspond to the metal terminals of the
semiconductor die. The die can then be attached to the package by
applying heat and/or thermosonic agitation to create metallurgical
connections between the bumped terminals on the package and the die
terminals. This embodiment is shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. FIG. 14 is a top
view showing flip-chip die 143 in LTCC-M package 141. FIG. 15 is a side
view of the same assembly showing flip chip 143 connected to a wiring
plane on surface 142 by bumps 144. FIG. 16 shows a top view of a package
before the die is installed. Wiring traces 161 can be seen residing on
surface 142.

[0046] In another embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 17,
connections to the LED assembly can be made by isolated terminals 175 on
base 174. Openings in insulating layer 171 form wells for the LEDs as
before. Insulating layer 171 can optionally include ground plane 172.
Metal vias 173 can facilitate electrical connections from isolated
terminals 175 to the die via conductive traces (not shown). FIG. 18 shows
a version of this embodiment designed to house a plurality of die 10.

[0047] The invention may now be more clearly understood by consideration
of the following specific example.

EXAMPLE

[0048] This part was built using a 13% copper, 74% molybdenum, 13% copper
(CMC) metal laminate produced by H.C. Starck Corp. Thick film gold
bonding pads are fired on the metal base to correspond to the location of
each diode electrode. The pads are connected electrically and thermally
to the CMC base. 4 layers of CMC-compatible ceramic tape are used to form
the LED cavities, make the electrical connections, and form the array
housing. The ceramic tape is composed of glasses and resins supplied by
Ferro Corp. and others. The tape materials are ground, mixed, and cast
into flat sheets. The sheets are then processed using common "green" tape
processing including punching, printing, collating, and laminating.

[0049] The cavities are formed by routing (cutting away material with a
rotary tool), pressing the shape using a rigid tool during lamination in
the green state, or by punching the cavity in each ceramic layer
(green-state punching) using a round punch tool 190 with punch shaft 191
and tapered shaft 192 (FIG. 19). Round Punch 193 pushes out the ceramic
tape chad, then the tapered shaft 192 presses a taper into the green
tape. The surface is optionally coated with a silver or aluminum metal
powder prior to each punch. During the punching operation the metal
powder is transferred to the ceramic tape. When fired, the metal sinters
into the ceramic. The surface of the taper can also be polished after
firing using a rotary polishing tool. A polished surface can also result
by using a ceramic powder with a finer grain size in the production of
the ceramic tape. The finer grain size reduces the surface roughness of
the finished part.

[0050] The CMC base is attached during lamination and joined to the tape
layers during firing at .about.900.degree. C. Multiple arrays are
processed on a single wafer, which is then singulated by dicing after
firing. After the package is complete, individual diodes are connected to
the gold pads in the bottom of each cavity by soldering using 80% Au/20%
Sn solder, or using electrically conductive epoxy such as Ablebond 84LMI.
The gold pads are connected to the metal base. Conductive vias connect an
electrical terminal on the top ceramic layer to the metal base. The anode
or cathode are commonly connected to the back side of the diode which is
in-turn connected to the gold bonding pad The opposite side of the diode
is electrically connected to the array using a wire bond. The bond is
connected from the diode to a bonding pad on one of the ceramic layers.
Thick film, conductive traces are deposited onto the surface of the
ceramic layer containing the bonding pads. The traces are connected to an
electrical terminal on the top ceramic layer through electrically
conductive vias. A variety of diode connections are possible including
series, parallel, and combined series-parallel. Voltage dropping and
current limiting resistors, inductors, and capacitors may be added as
components buried in between the ceramic layers, or as discrete
components mounted on the top surface of the package. Additional control,
ESD protection, and voltage regulation semiconductors may be added in die
or packaged form. Finally, an index matching epoxy, such as Hysol 1600,
may be added to each diode cavity to improve the light output of each
device, followed by a cover or lens that may be attached using clear
Hysol 1600.

[0051] II. LTCC-M Packaging

[0052] Multilayer ceramic circuit boards are made from layers of green
ceramic tapes. A green tape is made from particular glass compositions
and optional ceramic powders, which are mixed with organic binders and a
solvent, cast and cut to form the tape. Wiring patterns can be screen
printed onto the tape layers to carry out various functions. Vias are
then punched in the tape and are filled with a conductor ink to connect
the wiring on one green tape to wiring on another green tape. The tapes
are then aligned, laminated, and fired to remove the organic materials,
to sinter the metal patterns and to crystallize the glasses. This is
generally carried out at temperatures below about 1000.degree. C., and
preferably from about 750-950.degree. C. The composition of the glasses
determines the coefficient of thermal expansion, the dielectric constant
and the compatibility of the multilayer ceramic circuit boards to various
electronic components. Exemplary crystallizing glasses with inorganic
fillers that sinter in the temperature range 700 to 1000.degree. C. are
Magnesium Alumino-Silicate, Calcium Boro-Silicate, Lead Boro-Silicate,
and Calcium Alumino-Boricate.

[0053] More recently, metal support substrates (metal boards) have been
used to support the green tapes. The metal boards lend strength to the
glass layers. Moreover since the green tape layers can be mounted on both
sides of a metal board and can be adhered to a metal board with suitable
bonding glasses, the metal boards permit increased complexity and density
of circuits and devices. In addition, passive and active components, such
as resistors, inductors, and capacitors can be incorporated into the
circuit boards for additional functionality. Where optical components,
such as LEDs are installed, the walls of the ceramic layers can be shaped
and/or coated to enhance the reflective optical properties of the
package. Thus this system, known as low temperature cofired ceramic-metal
support boards, or LTCC-M, has proven to be a means for high integration
of various devices and circuitry in a single package. The system can be
tailored to be compatible with devices including silicon-based devices,
indium phosphide-based devices and gallium arsenide-based devices, for
example, by proper choice of the metal for the support board and of the
glasses in the green tapes.

[0054] The ceramic layers of the LTCC-M structure must be matched to the
thermal coefficient of expansion of the metal support board. Glass
ceramic compositions are known that match the thermal expansion
properties of various metal or metal matrix composites. The LTCC-M
structure and materials are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,455,930,
"Integrated heat sinking packages using low temperature co-fired ceramic
metal circuit board technology", issued Sep. 24, 2002 to Ponnuswamy, et
al and assigned to Lamina Ceramics. U.S. Pat. No. 6,455,930 is
incorporated by reference herein. The LTCC-M structure is further
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,581,876, 5,725,808, 5,953,203, and
6,518,502, all of which are assigned to Lamina Ceramics and also
incorporated by reference herein.

[0055] The metal support boards used for LTCC-M technology do have a high
thermal conductivity, but some metal boards have a high thermal
coefficient of expansion, and thus a bare die cannot always be directly
mounted to such metal support boards. However, some metal support boards
are known that can be used for such purposes, such as metal composites of
copper and molybdenum (including from 10-25% by weight of copper) or
copper and tungsten (including 10-25% by weight of copper), made using
powder metallurgical techniques. Copper clad Kovar.RTM., a metal alloy of
iron, nickel, cobalt and manganese, a trademark of Carpenter Technology,
is a very useful support board. AlSiC is another material that can be
used for direct attachment, as can aluminum or copper graphite
composites.

[0056] Another instance wherein good cooling is required is for thermal
management of flip chip packaging. FIGS. 14 and 15, for example show the
inventive LED system where the LTCC-M package house LED die. Densely
packed microcircuitry, and devices such as decoder/drivers, amplifiers,
oscillators and the like which generate large amounts of heat, can also
use LTCC-M techniques advantageously. Metallization on the top layers of
an integrated circuit bring input/output lines to the edge of the chip so
as to be able to wire bond to the package or module that contains the
chip. Thus the length of the wirebond wire becomes an issue; too long a
wire leads to parasitics. The cost of very high integration chips may be
determined by the arrangement of the bond pads, rather than by the area
of silicon needed to create the circuitry. Flip chip packaging overcomes
at least some of these problems by using solder bumps rather than
wirebond pads to make connections. These solder bumps are smaller than
wire bond pads and, when the chip is turned upside down, or flipped,
solder reflow can be used to attach the chip to the package. Since the
solder bumps are small, the chip can contain input/output connections
within its interior if multilayer packaging is used. Thus the number of
transistors in it, rather than the number and size of bond pads will
determine the chip size.

[0057] However, increased density and integration of functions on a single
chip leads to higher temperatures on the chip, which may prevent full
utilization of optimal circuit density. The only heat sinks are the small
solder bumps that connect the chip to the package. If this is
insufficient, small active or passive heat sinks must be added on top of
the flip chip. Such additional heat sinks increase assembly costs,
increase the number of parts required, and increase the package costs.
Particularly if the heat sinks have a small thermal mass, they have
limited effectiveness as well.

[0058] In the simplest form of the present invention, LTCC-M technology is
used to provide an integrated package for a semiconductor component and
accompanying circuitry, wherein the conductive metal support board
provides a heat sink for the component. A bare semiconductor die, for
example, can be mounted directly onto a metal base of the LTCC-M system
having high thermal conductivity to cool the semiconductor component. In
such case, the electrical signals to operate the component must be
connected to the component from the ceramic. In FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, wire
bond 54 serves this purpose. Indirect attachment to the metal support
board can also be used. In this package, all of the required components
are mounted on a metal support board, incorporating embedded passive
components such as conductors and resistors into the multilayer ceramic
portion, to connect the various components, i.e., semiconductor
components, circuits, heat sink and the like, in an integrated package.
The package can be hermetically sealed with a lid.

[0059] For a more complex structure having improved heat sinking, the
integrated package of the invention combines a first and a second LTCC-M
substrate. The first substrate can have mounted thereon a semiconductor
device, and a multilayer ceramic circuit board with embedded circuitry
for operating the component; the second substrate has a heat sink or
conductive heat spreader mounted thereon. Thermoelectric (TEC) plates
(Peltier devices) and temperature control circuitry are mounted between
the first and second substrates to provide improved temperature control
of semiconductor devices. A hermetic enclosure can be adhered to the
metal support board.

[0060] The use of LTCC-M technology can also utilize the advantages of
flip chip packaging together with integrated heat sinking. The packages
of the invention can be made smaller, cheaper and more efficient than
existing present-day packaging. The metal substrate serves as a heat
spreader or heat sink. The flip chip can be mounted directly on the metal
substrate, which is an integral part of the package, eliminating the need
for additional heat sinking. A flexible circuit can be mounted over the
bumps on the flip chip. The use of multilayer ceramic layers can also
accomplish a fan-out and routing of traces to the periphery of the
package, further improving heat sinking. High power integrated circuits
and devices that have high thermal management needs can be used with this
new LTCC-M technology.

[0061] It is understood that the above-described embodiments are
illustrative of only a few of the many possible specific embodiments,
which can represent applications of the invention. Numerous and varied
other arrangements can be made by those skilled in the art without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.